Aircraft



M. T. BRUSH.

AIRCRAFT. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23. 1919.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

A TTURNEV MITTIE TAYLOR BRUSH, F DUBLIN, HAMPSHIRE.

AIRCRAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Application filed January 23, 1919. Serial No. 272,633.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L MI'ITIE TAYLon Bnosrr,

a citizen of the United States, residing at of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a wire reinforced fabric intended particularly for use as a surfacing material for aircraft and to means for suitably securing the same to the framework of the machine.

The puncturing of the cloth with which the wings, control planes, and often the body of an airplane are usually covered, by a shot or fragment of shell or otherwise, presents an element of danger both to the machine and to its occupants, especially in case it occurs in the surfacing material of the wing during flight when repairs cannot be made, since the rent thus started is very liable to become enlarged by the tearing of the cloth, either across the woof or across the warp or both, under the pressure of the air thereon.

To remedy this defect, it has heretofore been proposed to employ a fabric reinforced at intervals in one or both directions by stronger threads, of the same kind as those of which the fabric is woven or of a different textile nature or even of metal, adapted to limit tears when started therein; and it has been suggested that such reinforced fabric could be secured more firmly to the frame of the machine than ordinary fabrics by fastening the reinforcing threads under the heads of the tacks used for the attachmerit of the fabric. But such a covering material secured in the manner stated has not proven practicable, and, notwithstanding the urgent need for something of the kind during the past few years, has never been used so far as I am aware.

I have found as the result of numerous experiments that a wire reinforced fabric, to be of practical value for the purpose in view, should be reinforced with wires made of non-corrodible metal or otherwise protected against rust, that in applying this reinforced covering the wires should be stretched tightly across the frame and so fixed thereto that they will be securely held under tension, and, preferably, that the wires should be stretched and fastened before the fabric is given the customary coating of varnish. My experiments have shown that piano wire, a steel wire which combines lightness with the requisite tensile strength and is protected from moistureby a plating of tin, or similar metal, is especially well adapted for this purpose, wire of No. .008 to .012 gage inserted at intervalsof one or two inches being found suficient for the reinforcement of the three to four ounce linen or cotton cloth commonly used in airplane construction. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the reinforced fabric could not be satisfactorily attached to the framework with the tacks or other fasteners ordinarily used, since such fasteners provide no means for properly tensioning the wires and are liable, when used in the man? ner suggested above, both to outer seriously.

weaken the wires and later to work loose in the frame and release them. I have there fore devised and employ a special fastener by which the wires may be tensioned and firmly secured to the frame without injury. And I have found that the varnish, when applied to the fabric after the wires have been thus affixed to the framework, will shrink it sufficiently to straighten out the wrinkles or puckers which are produced therein by the stretching of the wires, but without causing the latter to check ifthey have been properly tensioned.

The invention, which embraces the several features mentioned, will be understood by reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a broken corner section of an airplane frame covered with my improved wire reinforced fabric, portions of the fabric being broken away to show the frame and fasteners by which the wires are secured thereto; Fig. 2 is an en largecl perspective view showing portions of the fabric and of the frame, partly in section, and one form of the new fastener; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to the preceding but showing a modified form of fastener.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the frame of a wing, control plane, or other part of an airplane, and the numeral 2 indicates the covering of textile fabric reinforced in both directions, as. here in shown, by wires 3 and 4. which are secured to the frame by fasteners 5 and 6. The reinforcing wires, preferably as stated of plated steel piano wire, are incorporated in the fabric either when the fabric is woven,

as may be done by the use of a specially constructed loom, or by inserting them in any suitable manner in a previously woven fabric. The fasteners 5, which are the fasteners preferred, are light eye-bolts having a small eye a adapted to receive the end of one or two reinforcing wires and a winged finger-nut b, and each is provided with a loosely fitting washer c of copper or other relatively soft metal which will not cut or mg in the washer injure the wires. To secure a wire to the frame with a fastener of this form, the end of the wire is passed up through the openand through the eye of the fastener, the fastener is inserted in the recessed hole drilled for the purpose through the frame and, the wire being drawn tight, is given a few turns to wind up and properly tension the wire, and then the nut is screwed on so as todraw the washer tightly down upon the wire and securely lock the bolt in place. When both sides of a frame are to be covered, it is usually possible to tension and secure corresponding wires in the two pieces of fabric with a single fastener. But it is obvious that, after most of the wires have been thus fastened, it will be impossible to get between the two coverings to manipulate a nut, and consequently, to secure the last wires, I make use of the screwfasteners 6 which as shown, have eyes a in their rounded heads and are also provided with copper washers c. The wires are threaded through the eyes of these fasteners after they have been screwed into the frame except for the few additional turns necessary to tension the wires and press the washers down firmly upon them. The stretching of the wires causes a slight wrinkling or puckering of the fabric, and for this reason I prefer to fasten the wires will straighten out the wrinkles and give to the-covering a smooth tight surface. It is usually desirable to fasten the edges of the fabric between the fasteners, and this can be done in the ordinary manner.

Without limiting myself to features and details of construction except as hereinafter specifically set forth, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in an aircraft, of a. frame, a textile surfacing fabric therefor which is reinforced by wires incorporated at intervals therein, and fastening means for stretching the reinforcing wires upon the frame and securing them thereto under tension.

2. The combination, in an aircraft, of a frame, a textile covering fabric therefor which is reinforced by fine wires incorporated at intervals therein, and fasteners with washers of relatively soft metal which are rotatable in the frame and by which the reinforcing wires of the fabric may first be stretched and then secured under tension between the washer and the frame.

3. The combination in an aircraft, of a frame, a textile surfacing fabric therefor reinforced by wires incorporated at intervals therein, and eye-bolt fasteners for securing the reinforcing wires of the fabric which are mounted in the frame to turn therein and are provided with nuts by which they may be held in fixed position.

MITTIE TAYLOR BRUSH. 

